Fireproof drop-curtain.



No. 769,788. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

I. H. SHANNON.

FIREPROOF DRQP CURTAIN.

APPLIUATION FILED rma. 4. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

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(if .df/Magda@ -B UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

JAMES H. CHANNON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.A

FIREPROOF DROP-CURTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,788, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed February 4, 1904.

To all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. (SHANNON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the. county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Freproof Drop-Curtains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.'

My invention relates to a novel construction in a reproof drop-curtain for theaters, the object being to provide a curtain of light and durable construction capable of withstanding high temperatures; and it consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a fragmentary rear elevation of a curtain constructed in accord ance with my invention, the rear wall being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan section of same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the inner or stage wall of the curtain.

My said invention consists, primarily, in providing a curtain the outer Wall (or that which faces the auditorium) of which is composed of sheet metal, preferably corrugated sheet-steel, and the inner or stage wall of which is cornposed of a non-conducting non-combustible material, such as asbestos or the like, but preferably of vitried asbestos, such vitritied asbestos consisting of asbestos sheets which, so far as the writer is informed, are impregnated with a iireproof cement or other composition and baked, such cement or other substance acting as a binder for the ber and rendering the sheets very hard and stiff, so

that they become far more durable and better adapted for this purpose. The said inner wall outer wall A, of sheet metal, preferably corrugated, and an inner vwall B, of a non-conducting non-combustible material, preferably vitriied asbestos, such inner and outer walls being secured together by means of bolts C and held apart by means of washers D inserted over said bolts C and interposed between said walls A and B, said washers being also composed of a non-conducting non-combustible material, the free space E between said Walls A and B forming an insulating airchamber. The said wall B is preferably hollow, being composed of two sheets F and G, between which a corrugated sheet of vitriied asbestos is interposed, such corrugated sheet being the equivalent of a plurality of longitudinally-disposed strips, thus providing a large number of vertical air-spaces H, which serve to render such rear walls still further impenetrable to heat.

Owing to the large area of such curtains, it is essential that the same should be thoroughly reinforced and braced, and to this end I secure to the inner face of the metal wall or screen A a plurality of Yvertically-disposed parallel T-irons J and' connect the same together by means of a plurality of inclined cross-braces K, such T-irons and cross-braces forming substantially a frame which carries the walls or screens A and B.

The edges of the curtain are secured in channelbeams L, and to the outer faces of the Webs of the channel-beams inclosing' the vertical edges are secured U-shaped guides M, which receive the flanges of Z-bars N, secured to the stage side of the proscenium-wall'O at each side of the opening, such intertting guides serving to prevent flame and smoke from issuing into the auditorium.

My said curtain is very light, durable, and ecient.

I claim as my inventionl.A A freproof drop-curtain comprising a wall of sheet metal and a Wall of non-conduct- Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 769,788.

ing, non-combustible material secured to said steel wall, there being an air-space between said walls.

2. A hollow ireprooi drop-curtain having 5 one wall composed of sheet metal and its other wall composed of a layer of non-conducting, non-combustible material.

3. A tireproot' drop-curtain consisting of a wall of corrugated sheet metal, a wall of non- TO conducting, non-combustible material secured to said sheet-metal wall and separated therefrom by an air-space.

4. Atireprootl drop-curtain consisting of an outer wall ot' corrugated sheet-steel, and in- I5 ner wall of non-conducting', non-combustible material separated from said outer wall by an airspace, bolts securing said walls together, and sleeves of non-conducting', non-combustible material interposed between said walls and 2O inserted over said bolts.

5. A reproof curtain comprising,l two screens of fireproof material, one of which is a non-'conductor of heat, bolts securing said screens together, and means interposed loe- 25 tween said screens at intervals for holding September 13, 1904. Enters this disclaimer t0- [Qcial Gazette, February 2, 1.909.]

saine apart to provide an air-space between the same.

6. A iireproof curtain comprising two parallel tireprool screens, one or' said screens eonsisting` of corrugated st eel plates and the other thereof of a hollow sheet of non-conc] noting, non-combustible material, parallel T-irons mounted on the inner face of said metal sheet, crossbraces secured at their ends to said T- irons, bolts securing said sheets together, and sleeves ot' non-conducting, non-combustible material inserted over said bolts and interposed between said screens.

7. A ireproof curtain comprising two parallel tireproof screens separated by an airspace, one of said screens consisting' of a sheet of non-conducting, non-combustible material having air-spaces therein.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses..

JAMES H. CHANNON.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lorz, F. SCHLOTFELD.

DISCLAIMER.

769,788.-Ja,mes 1I. Chan/non, Chicago, Ill., FIREPROOF DROP-CURTAIN.

Disclaimer led January 21, 1909, by the patentee.

Patent dated The use of non-conducting, non-combustible material broadly for one Wall of my curtain and desire to confine my claims to a structure in which the Wall next the stage is made up of sheet-asbestos as the non-conducting, non-combustible material.

Disclaimer in Letters Patent No. 769,788.

ing, non-combustible material secured to said steel wall, there being an air-space between said walls.

2. A hollow ireprooi drop-curtain having 5 one wall composed of sheet metal and its other wall composed of a layer of non-conducting, non-combustible material.

3. A tireproot' drop-curtain consisting of a wall of corrugated sheet metal, a wall of non- TO conducting, non-combustible material secured to said sheet-metal wall and separated therefrom by an air-space.

4. Atireprootl drop-curtain consisting of an outer wall ot' corrugated sheet-steel, and in- I5 ner wall of non-conducting', non-combustible material separated from said outer wall by an airspace, bolts securing said walls together, and sleeves of non-conducting', non-combustible material interposed between said walls and 2O inserted over said bolts.

5. A reproof curtain comprising,l two screens of fireproof material, one of which is a non-'conductor of heat, bolts securing said screens together, and means interposed loe- 25 tween said screens at intervals for holding September 13, 1904. Enters this disclaimer t0- [Qcial Gazette, February 2, 1.909.]

saine apart to provide an air-space between the same.

6. A iireproof curtain comprising two parallel tireprool screens, one or' said screens eonsisting` of corrugated st eel plates and the other thereof of a hollow sheet of non-conc] noting, non-combustible material, parallel T-irons mounted on the inner face of said metal sheet, crossbraces secured at their ends to said T- irons, bolts securing said sheets together, and sleeves ot' non-conducting, non-combustible material inserted over said bolts and interposed between said screens.

7. A ireproof curtain comprising two parallel tireproof screens separated by an airspace, one of said screens consisting' of a sheet of non-conducting, non-combustible material having air-spaces therein.

ln testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses..

JAMES H. CHANNON.

Witnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. Lorz, F. SCHLOTFELD.

DISCLAIMER.

769,788.-Ja,mes 1I. Chan/non, Chicago, Ill., FIREPROOF DROP-CURTAIN.

Disclaimer led January 21, 1909, by the patentee.

Patent dated The use of non-conducting, non-combustible material broadly for one Wall of my curtain and desire to confine my claims to a structure in which the Wall next the stage is made up of sheet-asbestos as the non-conducting, non-combustible material.

in Letters Patent No. 769,788.

Disclaimer DISCLAIMER.

769.788,-James l. Chamwn, Chicago,

September 13, 1904. Disclaimer Enters this disclaimer t0- The use of non-conducting, nonmy curtain and desire to confine my c stage is made up of sheet-asbestos as [Ocial Gazette, February 2, 1.909.]

Ill., FIREPROOF DROP-CURTAIN. Patent dated filed January 21, 1909, by the patentee. 

